"Did you pack your bag yourself?"

[Smoketoomuch]

Vaguely interesting article, esp if you've ever been tempted as a passenger to answer 'No'. Full version at http://www.iht.com/articles/24100.htm

NEW YORK "Did you pack your bag yourself?"
For years, I fought temptation at the airport. I resisted giving the response suggested by a comedian, Carol Leifer: "No. Like everyone else, I use bin Laden's Packing Service." But finally, one morning at New York's La Guardia Airport when I could afford to miss the flight, I braved an experiment.
"Actually, no," I replied. "My valet packed it."
The skycap at curbside check-in looked at me wearily. He huddled with three colleagues. One pulled out a telephone and consulted a superior. My suitcase and I were escorted to the security checkpoint on the way to the gates.

[This message has been edited by Smoketoomuch (edited 27 June 2001).]

[Professor TailSpin]

Used to have long hair and got stopped for a bag check every single time going through security to the gate and through customs at the other end.

Since cutting my hair to 'normal' length, I haven't been stopped once...

[AMEX]

Can't quite remember when but I suppose sometimes in the late 70s.
A lady embarking on an El AL flight was asked that question. To which she replied "no, my future husband did."
The next question was:
"And where is your husband then, is he travelling with you ?".
She replied: "no, he will be joining me in Israel where we will get married and I'll get the baby that I am presently expecting".
Still suspicious, the agent called for security and surprise, surprise, the bag had been converted by her husband and father to be, in a bomb designed to explode during that flight.
Turn out that the loving dad belonged to some terrorist group and had used his girlfriend (who knew nothing about it).

Having heard that story (and others) while I was working at check-in, I don't hink it is that dumb to ask it. you never know what might result out of it. As for the guys who thinks it is funny, they can always say that to victims of terrorism.

[The Nr Fairy]

Amex :

Peter Gurney, who's the bomb disposal guy who dealt with that bomb, wrote a book about his experiences and there's a fair bit about it.

IIRC, the explosive was in liquid form, held in a green glass wine bottle. It's detonated by a reasonable shock, so an electric calculator converted to either a time delay fuse or something barometric ( or a combination ) was in the bottom of the bag. Calculator goes bang, bottle goes bang, EL AL jumbo goes to bottom of Mediterranean.

The security guard was also suspicious of the weight of the bag.

At the court case, where the "boyfriend" was convicted of endangering an aircraft or terrorism or whatever it was, he was sentenced to forty five years imprisonment. Apparently he misheard it as "four to five", and the rapid wiping of the smug grin on his face when someone corrected him was something delightful to behold.

Anyone wanting to read about people who really have balls of steel, "Braver Men Run Away" is well worth the money.

[SKYYACHT]

Many airlines use the profiling system whereby the prospective passenger is subjected to a security interview which is intended to unearth any "suspicious signs". A passenger who either demonstrates a suspicious sign or whose answers to security questions are inconsistent are interviewed in more depth, until the suspicious sign is either resolved to the security agent's satisfaction, or the passenger is then subjected to further security treatment (ie., Body Search, full baggage search etc.
Naturally, some passengers find such techniques repellent, and many choose not to fly. However, it is this system that successfully caught the young lady referred to, whose name I believe to be Rose Murphy. I like security. There are too many nutters out there. So, when asked, answer the questions folks!

Tailwinds

[Skycop]

The only time someone else packed my case was about twenty years ago.

I was required, at very short notice, to go away to the middle of nowhere, wearing a flying suit in transit. My wife had thoughtfully packed my case by the time I arrived home to do it myself.

When I unpacked that night there were no trousers!

Spent five uncomfortable nights wearing someone else's trews that were about three sizes too big, with huge turn-ups so I could walk.

Never did that again.

[Tom the Tenor]

Hi SKYYACHT, Why did you think it was so necessary to give a name for the lady who was about to board the El Al aircraft - the likely ethnic background of her name did not quite suit you?